happy being trevy

She wants to buy an i-Pad, like, two months ago. He wants to think things through. She wants to download free educational Trevy friendly apps...two months ago already! He wants to wait til' Christmas. She wants to make the most of every single moment. We've got a right sided brain to re-wire after all! He wants to make the most of every single moment and penny...and has heard prices will be much reduced right around Christmas. She wants him to read this post... And then she'll hear more about what he wants! ::smile::

The kids loooooove Grams & Pop Pop's pool! It's certainly been a summer o' swimming weather in the North East. In fact, we finally broke down and ac-ed the whole house! Partially for Trevy's sake. Weird but true. He's been on Topomax for almost 2 years now...but this is the first summer we're seeing the tell tale signs of over heating. Inhibiting the body's ability to sweat is a Topomax side effect which increases the risk of heat stroke and seizures. AEDs are SO fun. Ugh. Makes you wonder if removing the broken parts of his brain...changed the way his body processes things? Makes me wonder anyway... So we have been spending quite a bit of time chill-axin' in their 4 feet of backyard refreshing. Trevy is quite the handful in the water. I swear he's on a mission to drown himself. Or me. Trying to teach that kid to keep his mouth closed feels impossible! But it's good therapy. Movement in the water. So they say... Water used to...

Even if my heart is heavy and sappy...how can I not smile when I read this email? This morning in circle we were going over the months. All the kids said this month was july, when Trevor was asked what month it was he replied "July". During speech we went to the library to do sone computer time. Another teacher said "hello" to Trevor and he responded back with "hello!" Sent from my iPhone

Almost three years later... it shouldn't be able to creep up behind me and squeeze the tears straight up from my heart to gush down my face. Almost three years later... you'd think it wouldn't anymore. And yet it does.

cause this video clip isn't curbing my i-pad itch! Hungry for more info before you run out and buy one too? Check out the super cute Babies with iPads blog!

That's what I told myself on Tuesday this week. When some jerk honked at Trevy's school bus for taking too long. From my spot on the sidewalk I could see the aide was having some buckle issues with the car seat. Not that it matters. There's always one jerk in every community. B-I-N-G-O! We found ours! That's what I told myself. But it happened AGAIN! Only yesterday I was blessed with a blaring horn AND a bonus of profanity screaming through the window while I tried to keep my smile on for Trevy's sake. And that of the crew of kids waiting in the car for me to haul them to various camps. I was SO hacked off. I even FaceBook threatened to call the police and media. In the end I didn't muster up the energy. But when it happened AGAIN this morning. Holy Crow...I blew a fuse!!!!! I'm STILL shaking in fact. I stood in the road and wrote down plate numbers of who I suspected was The Bully. And after I dropped the kids off at camp set about placing calls....

I had lots of feedback on yesterday's post . Although I thought it was interesting that not so many in comments. Mostly emails. A couple "real" convos too! Just not so much with the commenting. Maybe it makes people squirm? Although...interestingly...most of the feedback was pro the chairs. Speaking of... I knew they were in Trevy's classroom. I'd spied them when I initially toured. So cute with their stubby legs and low riding seats. Until I noticed. The belts. Which upon seeing...my emotional response was a mixture of mortification and someone please direct me to the closest retailer cause I need me one a them! I'm very wishy washy about how I feel. I suppose in part because admitting that my child may "need a belted chair" is a tough pill to swallow. Also...I feel slightly judgmental with him pulling me around the ball field harnessed into his monkey leash!

I'm curious what you think... about schools using chairs with seatbelts in the preschool classrooms?

I wish I had given Trevy more credit ages ago.  Now I'm battling the Mommy Guilt that comes with wondering if I misplaced the credit all that time. Giving the Seizure Monster more than deserved. And Trevy not enough. How many times did I believe he couldn't understand? Or wasn't cognitively capable of such n' such? Too many...  I wonder if I had just... pushed him harder... demanded more of him... expected more from him... believed more in him... Would he be a different boy today? If I had just... I can't rewind time. But if I could...I would have instituted the First - Then concept a looooong time ago! I just learned about the First - Then strategy from an ABA trained therapist who spent a little time with Trevy recently. It's very simple and easy to follow through. And even for the easily distracted child...I think it's a concept that (with, in our case and pos...

It was just your regular run of the mill Saturday. Spent doing our regular run of the mill Saturday things. Baseball practice in the am. Running errands during practice. A few home improvement projects worked on. A precious hour or two of chill time. Head to the beach for a couple hours in the pm. With all our baseball friends. Which isn't our run of the mill Saturday routine...but was gobs of fun all the same. Until the kiddos were crankin' it out on the ride home anyway! Why did we have three again? ::wink:: Get home just in time for baths. Nothing fancy here. Remind Trevy that his clothes must come off first. For some reason he insists on climbing into the tub fully dressed. Pulled him from the tub and encouraged him to help pull his pants down. Arms up...when taking off shirt. All very run of the mill-ish. A couple months ago we started incorporating Potty Time during our bath routine. Easy Peasy what with already being necked n' stuff. We were using an old ...

I have one for the binky... Shoot...I have one for the baby. Who is really not such a baby anymore. And is becoming increasingly stronger! Now there's one for the sippy cup! Ripped from their website... "We have designed the No Throw tether to strap around and fit tightly onto children's baby bottles and sippy cups. The No Throw's leash styled handle can strap or be slipped over the seat belt that are attached to your child's car seat, stroller, bike seat, high chair, baby-backpack, you name it! Read more here ..." Now if you'll excuse me... I have some Sippy Cups to tether!

Sometimes I wish I had a full time nanny. Who could do all the Trevy chasing. And I could simply clean the house. Or give myself a pedi. Or better yet...go somewhere swanky where I'd be met at the door with a glass of wine and someone else gives me the pedi! Sometimes I wish I had a personal chef. Who could whip up exactly the right meals that were yummy, nutritious and would cause me to shed pounds overnight. Cause the overcooked steak on the stove looks yucky. Which is why I'm munching the PB&J meant for them. Sometimes I wish I could hire a house cleaning service. Or a chauffeur. Especially on those days when the exhaustion is such that I really shouldn't be behind the wheel. Much less arguing with the pharmacy while doing so. Sometimes bedtime cannot come fast enough. Tonight is one of those sometimes...

Toby observed the funniest little thing this morning. It never rains on us when we're at Trevy's bus stop. And it's been a year of extreme rain here in New England. Yet never once has it rained on us. It's rained before. It's rained after. In fact...it literally began to drizzle while the bus was pulling away this morning. But never once while we're waiting for the bus. Nor...that I can remember...when picking him up! It's just a weird little thing. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts. ********** I had an observation of my own this morning. While checking emails and such. Cuppa coffee in hand. Somewhere along the way Jonathan has completely taken over Trevy's meds. Every morning he plops him on the couch and force feeds them to him. And every evening he plops him back on the couch. Usually jammied up and smelling like baby bath. And force feeds him round two. I don't know when I stopped being a part of the medicine admini...

Miss. CNA says... Your child is just too adorable! I was on the fence. Until I noticed the crossed legs! ::grin and wink::

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I've had this idea swirling around my crazy head for awhile now. I happened to be enjoying the outdoors one day not so long ago. You know...before it was Africa Hot. Africa Hot means you enjoy being in doors more than out! But that day I happened to be out and was watching the kids romping around the yard. One of Trevy's IEP goals is learning appropriate social skills. Because...well...most of the time Trevy is just bumbling around by himself doing his own thing. That or getting nose to nose with a peer and pointing out every single body part. And when he gets to "teeth" his fingers must actually touch their teeth even if it means forcing their lips open. This has a tendency to make the peers less than comfy! ::smile:: But that day...I noticed that my kiddos seemed to be playing together . Actually...they were squirting each other with spray bottles. It's one of my home grown therapy ideas. Although I'm sure it's not new with me. As Solomon says...

It's swealteringly summer here... I almost missed getting him on the bus. And was a melty mess after it was said and done. But Trevy officially made it to his first day of the Extended School Program. I'm about the head out the door to pick him up now. Can't wait to get his first day report! Dropped Bristel at gymnastics camp. She's been living. Literally. In her leotard. And today she finally got to use it! Behind her sassy dimples...she's still a big sappy mommy's girl. So there were some tears. And begging me to stays. Which I did for about an hour. When I left her eyes were still red...but she was having fun attacking the vault! Okay...off to get the Trevster. Then the big kids head over to Grams' for a swim with the Canadian Cousins! Hope your summer is less crazy (and hot) than mine!

A cute little clip of Trevy showing off his new verbal skills! I keep reminding myself that 8 months ago...he had no speech. No reception. No expression. Nodda . Such a miracle! And trust me...he'll get your smile on! Plus, a bonus vid! Cause Trevy in Time Out is too cute not to share. ::smile:: This clip is actually fairly mild compared to his normal TO shananigans. But still cute. You'll see....

I'd forgotten all about it. The picture of Skinny Me hanging on the fridge. It was an image we used to "market" our mission work. Postcard sized. Full color. Random Tanzanian facts on the back. Cute little family of three...at the time...gracing the front. Jonathan looked tall and tan. I still had sexy hair skimming my skinny sexy neck. Toby's little Charlie Brown head was kissalicious. I don't know why we've kept it posted on the fridge for so long. That was a lifetime ago. Before Seizures. Now we're living the After Seizures life. I guess we left it up for nostalia's sake maybe? I've been trying really hard to shed some of this chub that has slowly been expanding my hips. And thighs. And arms. And abs. And...well...I think it's safe to say that my chub has declared war and invaded every inch of me! I also think it's safe to say that I'm obviously a stress eater! So I was passing by the fridge the other day when She ...